22 November · 1497 · Exploration

22 November: Da Gama rounds the Cape, and a bowl of Caldo Verde

On 22 November 1497 Vasco da Gama's fleet rounded the Cape of Good Hope, opening the sea road from Portugal to India. A Portuguese sailor's milestone gets Portugal's most famous soup: caldo verde, ribbons of green cabbage in potato broth with a slice of chouriço.

Illustration of Caldo Verde
Soup of the day

Caldo Verde

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Caldo verde, meaning 'green broth', is Portugal's most famous soup. Potatoes, onion and garlic are cooked and puréed into a smooth, pale base, and just before serving, dark Portuguese cabbage or kale cut into whisper-thin ribbons is added and cooked briefly so it stays bright green.

Read about Caldo Verde and get the recipe →

What happened

Vasco da Gama's fleet rounds the Cape of Good Hope on its way to India.

Sources

This page comes back every year on 22 November.

Every special day and its soup, in one calendar.

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